Potato cutter



J. RIDPATH.

POTATO CUTTER.

FILED SEPT. 13, 1922.

Feb. 13, 1923.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,555. J. RIDP-ATH.

POTATO CUTTER.

FILED SEPT.13, I922. 2 SHEETSS HEET 2- ,NVENTOR.

A 7 ORNE Y.

so i

I treats earner JOHN rewri ten, or snnnivrau, so 'rH DAKOTA."

POTATO CUTTER.

Application filed September 18, 1922. Serial No. 587,980.

T 0 all whom it may concern: 3

Be it known that l, Jenn RlDPATl-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherman, in the county of lvlinnehaha and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Potato Cutters, of which; the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for dividing potatoes into sections for planting, and has-tor one of its objects to provide a de vice of this character having means whereby potatoes of various sizes may be .readily and quickly divided with an ,eye or seed ineach piece, and without detaching or adjusting any otuthe parts.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a device of this character in which the dividing elements may be readily detached for renewal or repairs without disturbing the other portions.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative otthe preterred embodiment of the invention 7 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 i a plan view.

Figure 3 is a front elevation withthe re ceiving sack removed. i

Figure 4 is a sectional detail enlarged.

Figure 5 is a detached perspective view enlarged, of the knife element of the im- 35 r proved "device. 1 r

The improved device comprises a seat or platform 10 supported by legs 11 at a convenient height for the operator, and with vertical standards 12 at one end, the latter outturned at the upper end to form perforated ears 13, as shown.

Attached at 14 to the upper ends of the standards 12, is a flat elliptical shaped frame or endless band 15.

The band is formed with upwardly opening notches 16 at spaced intervals, and engaging in these notches are the terminals of a plurality of blades having their upper edges sharpened or knife edged, as shown.

at their ends the blades are reduced to enter the notches 16 and bent laterally externally ot the band as shown at 18,150 prevent la eral displacement of the blades.

()ne ot the blades 19 extends from one end at the band 15 to a point near the other end and is connected at this point to the apex of a llhaped blade 20, the latter coupled at its outer ends to the band, while a reversely directed ll-shaped blade 21 is also coupled tothe inner-end of the blade 19 and also to the apex of the blade 20, and coupled at its ends to the band in spaced relation to the ends of the blades.

Coupled at 22 to the longitudinally directed blade 19 near the other end is another blade 23, the latter connected to the band 15 atopposite sides, as shown. Extending transversely of the band 15 intermediate the blades 21 and 23 are other reversely arranged blades 2% and 25, crosslar spur 29 at one side ofthe central blade 19.

By this arrangement when a potato is to be cut into two portions, for instance when the potato is sinall and contains two eyes or seeds only, it is placed upon the spur 29 with one eye at each side-of the blade 25 so that when torced down it will be Severed into two portions with an eye or seed in each portion.- Y l When a larger potato or one containing toureyes or seeds isto be cut, it is placed on the spur 26 and then when forced downwardly; it will be severed into four portions by the blades 19 and 23, with an eye or seed in each portion.

Then when a potato is to be severed into six portions it will be placed on the spur able the block to be adjusted relative to the rods.

At their lower ends the standards 12 are outturned to form ears 33. perforated to slidably receive the rods 31. The cars 13 extend farther out than the cars 33, and the rods are offset asshown at 34, so that the space between the rods is greater above the ears 13 than below them, to provide ample space for the insertion of the potatoes.

The rods 31 are coupled at their lower ends to a beam 85, and coupled at 3.6 to the center of the beam is a pull rod 37 to which a foot lever 38 is coupled at 39.

The foot lever is pivoted at 40 to one of the legs 11, and is guided in its movement by rods 4-1. I

attached at the upper end to the band 15 by bolts 44;, or the like, and a brace i5 is also connected between the seat 10 and the upper part of the chute, to strengthen andreinforce the coupling between the parts.

' The severed potatoes will thus be dep'o'sitedin the chute and. conducted into a suitable receptacle therefrom.

Formed upon theears 13 are hooks l6 to support a receiving sack 4:7, or the like, as shown in Fig; 4,

' 'By this simple means potatoes of various sizes may be severed to hold a single eye or seed in each section, and by adjusting upon the'crossed and radially arranged knives the improved device may be adapted to potatoes of various sizes without change of structure, the change being accomplished byplacing the potatoes upon a particular portion of the crossed knives.

Theimproved device is very simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and operates effectually for the purposes described. -'Thei preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosedin the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that modifications within the scope of the claimed invention maybe made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. Having thus described the invention what is claimed is i 1. In anapparatus of the class described, a base member, standards attached to said base member and having outturned perforated ears at the ends, an endlessband attached to said standards, a plurality of cutting blades connected at their ends to said band and extending transversely thereof, a follower block, pull rods connected to said follower block and sl-idable through said ears, and means for actuating said pull rods to cause the'follower block to be moved toward the band and its cutting blades.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a base member, standards attached to said base member andhaving outturned perfo rated ears, an endless bandattached "to said standards, a plurality of cutting blades connected at their ends to said band and extending vtin isverselv thereof, a follower block, pull rods connected to said follower block and slidable through said ears, a beam member connecting said rods at their lower ends, and a foot lever coupled to said beam, whereby the follower block may be moved toward said band and its cutting blades.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a base men'iberyan endless band supported from said base member and havinga plurality of upwardly opening space'd' notches in its' upper edge, a plurality of cutting blades engaging at their ends in said notches with the ends turned laterally to engage the exterior of the bandpsaid cuttingiblades'extending transversely the-band, a follower block, and n'ieans for moving said follower block towards said band and its cutting blades. a i In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature. 7

' JOHN RIDPATH. 

